Best colleges in West Virginia
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in West Virginia19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in West Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV · Private for-profit#1 in West Virginia
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 57% graduate
- 2
Valley College-Martinsburg
Martinsburg, WV · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 66% graduate
- 3
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public#3 in West Virginia
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 65% graduate
- 4
- 5
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV · Private nonprofit#5 in West Virginia
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 46% graduate
- 6
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 33% graduate
- 7
Marshall University
Huntington, WV · PublicTop 9% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 51% graduate
- 8
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV · Private nonprofit#8 in West Virginia
- Value grade B-
- 57% graduate
- 9
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 51% graduate
- 10
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser, WV · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 31% graduate
- 11
- 12
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, WV · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 44% graduate
- 13
- 14
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV · Private nonprofit#14 in West Virginia
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 23% graduate
- 15
- 16
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV · Public#16 in West Virginia
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 37% graduate
- 17
- 18
- 19
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 39% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Public University System | $9,597 | $21,743 | $44,409 | 57% |
| Valley College-Martinsburg | $25,751 | $9,500 | $24,900 | 66% |
| West Virginia University | $15,634 | $22,500 | $55,939 | 65% |
| West Liberty University | $15,366 | $23,250 | $43,296 | 60% |
| University of Charleston | $22,107 | $19,500 | $55,774 | 46% |
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology | $9,337 | $22,500 | $55,939 | 33% |
| Marshall University | $7,502 | $23,250 | $46,354 | 51% |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | $18,083 | $27,000 | $51,593 | 57% |
| Shepherd University | $11,363 | $21,600 | $49,358 | 51% |
| Potomac State College of West Virginia University | $9,197 | $22,500 | $55,939 | 31% |
| Bethany College | $18,605 | $27,000 | $44,512 | 47% |
| Fairmont State University | $9,032 | $21,000 | $46,857 | 44% |
| Glenville State University | $14,006 | $25,000 | $39,315 | 34% |
| Wheeling University | $20,503 | $25,125 | $57,949 | 23% |
| Concord University | $9,966 | $18,900 | $42,703 | 39% |
| Bluefield State University | $13,684 | $18,250 | $38,217 | 37% |
| Salem University | $12,303 | $24,694 | $34,642 | 20% |
| Davis & Elkins College | $18,273 | $27,000 | $43,411 | 39% |
| West Virginia State University | $11,139 | $23,338 | $40,492 | 39% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3